Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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My question is simply to reference a point made by Deputy Bríd Smith. With regard to the negative lists - the list of sectors excluded from this very important treaty that has been negotiated for eight years - how can the witnesses justify the complete lack of democratic oversight in that at no point during those eight years have people come into this committee or into the Dáil and said: "This is what we are thinking and these are the sectors we think need to be excluded".

The witnesses are here to reassure us that the democratic rights of our people will not be trampled down by this deal. However, the witnesses themselves have conceded that in eight years, there has been no democratic oversight of which sectors are excluded or included. I am flabbergasted.